Miscellaneous laptop discussions : Bloatware
Ok, just so I am clear
by jbeneshellfish - 8/7/06 2:15 PM In reply to: I just want to be sure by jbeneshellfishWill formatting do the same thing as Add/Remove? It just takes longer using Add/Remove?
Formatting is usually not done. Here's why.
by R. Proffitt
- 8/7/06 2:56 PM
In reply to: Ok, just so I am clear by jbeneshellfish
I've found very few that can install Windows XP clean and proper on a laptop. I've come to the conclusion that I know 5 people that can do this.
There are a few owners that can't tolerate that a "scrap" of information is left on a machine about an unused program. I usually walk them through a clean install of Windows XP from Microsoft's CD and show them a few hundred scraps and ask them if it really matters. About 2% will be like a Mr. Monk and want to clean until the cows not only come home but are turned into hamburgers.
Your choice as to how far to go and how many months to clean up XP.
I'd rather just eject what I don't want and enjoy using my new notebook.
Bob
So............
by jbeneshellfish - 8/9/06 5:48 AM In reply to: Formatting is usually not done. Here's why. by R. Proffitt
So Add/Remove will do just as good a job as a total format? Is that what you're saying? I just hate the idea of not getting the most out of my laptop (performance-wise) because of little bloatware programs all over the place.
Not as good, but I didn't tell the story well. (more)
by R. Proffitt - 8/9/06 11:29 AM
In reply to: So............ by jbeneshellfish
If we install XP clean, what I can show is "scraps" of programs that you have yet to install. We can find registry entries for many softwares that we never installed.
The concept of a clean and tidy OS does not apply to Microsoft's supplied CD.
If you feel it must be this tidy, please dive in and start scrubbing. For me, the add/remove and maybe a little more for Symantec software is all I bother with. I want to enjoy my new machine.
Bob
Also try a Registry Cleaner
by 315517 - 8/11/06 4:43 AM In reply to: Not as good, but I didn't tell the story well. (more) by R. Proffitt
You might also want to check out download.com for a good registry cleaner after you add/remove programs. That will remove a lot of the garbage from your registry.
My previous experience with formatting a harddrive is that you only want to do it as a last resort (eg after major crash or virus invasion w/ unsuccessful removal) because it takes FOREVER to re-install everything and then go through add/remove AGAIN to get rid of all the crap that comes from your restore disk. Investing in and using good backup/drive imaging software is a big time-saver!
Also, when removing programs/utilities that come with your system, (can't speak directly about Dell), there may be programs that look like junk but serve a useful purpose that you don't realize until it's gone. It may be a good idea to do a web search on each program just to make sure you're not deleting the utility that you would have wanted. Once, I deleted a program on my laptop that automatically switches between my hardwire network connection and my wireless. It really sucks to do that manually.
that's probably the best choice for you
by decomposingman - 8/11/06 12:16 PM In reply to: Also try a Registry Cleaner by 315517The previous post (and others who said similar things) is spot on. There used to be a time when an actual Windows installation CD, not a system restore disk, was shipped with computers. In those days, you could install the OS separately after a format and then install the drivers and software separately (depending on the manufacturer). These days, if you reformat and then use the restore disk, you're pretty much right back in the same boat. OK, well, I'm not 100% sure about that since it has been a couple years since I set up a new laptop, so I don't know if they ship separate disks for certain software apps or not.
This is what I would do with a new laptop that had programs I didn't want. I would remove anything I 100% knew I didn't need through Add/Remove programs. Then I would check the web about any other programs to see if they were something that would be useful. After doing that, I would remove what I could. Then I would go to Start/Run and type msconfig and then click the Startup tab to see everything that is listed in there. I would double check anything I wasn't sure about on the web, and then I would uncheck anything that I didn't want running when I started up Windows.
Then I would get a registry cleaner, run a defrag, double check msconfig to make sure that my changes stuck, and maybe even take a gander at the registry itself to see if the changes I expected were in there (DISCLAIMER: don't poke around the registry unless you know exactly what you are doing!). I would also check the Program Files directory and see if there are any remnant files or folders of programs I have uninstalled. If I am unable to delete them because the system is using some file, then I know that it isn't completely gone, or at least something isn't totally right.
I tend to lean toward those who would clean house like Mr. Monk, but I wouldn't reformat unless I knew with complete certainty that when I reinstalled, I would ONLY get the OS and the requisite drivers to run the notebook's hardware. I don't have that kind of certainty in restore disks, but I do trust my own cleanup skills.
My advice to you is to simply use add/remove, check what might be useful if you're not sure, use a registry cleaner and defrag at least once a month. Msconfig is a good place to check and see if programs are sneaking in startup files when you load windows and you can deactivate them there if you like.
Hope this helps.
Formatting Issues
by qadie - 8/11/06 3:13 AM In reply to: So............ by jbeneshellfishFormatting is completely wiping and starting a-fresh. The issue with this approach is that most manufacturer's restore cd's will replace the bloatware as well as Windows!!
The comments made about cleaning are perfectly legitimate. Getting any system to a Windows-only state is very tricky. Once you've used Add/Remove on a program, what you're actually left with is a few registry entries and likely a few files scattered on your hard drive. Whilst this is fine, and won't impact your performance in any way you'll notice at all, if you were to do it 10,000x, each time with a different program, you'd see a slow down.
My advice:
# Don't worry too much about the software as shipped. Use add/remove on everything you don't want.
# Once done, go to Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Disk Defragmenter. Run this on drive c: to reclaim some hard disk drive performance (and continue to run this once a month thereafter. If you don't know, and are interested in how this tool affects performance, there's LOADS of info on it. Just ask google.)
# Make regular back-ups.
# If 12-18 months from now, you think you've suffered a real performance loss over time, thats the time to format and start again, but be aware of the point I made at the top - a lot of manufacturer restore disks will replace the bloat!
Hope this has been helpful.
I reformatted my HP Pavilion laptop
by Lumpy95 - 8/18/06 1:42 PM In reply to: Formatting Issues by qadieWhen I got my HP Pavilion dv5ooot it was LOADED with crap and the 80gb HDD had 20gb used for the restore partition (80-20=60) and then it had a ton of stuff besides that. When I ordered the laptop I chose to get a "Backup" XP Pro sp2 CD with it (Cheaper than retail).
HP has an SW folder that has all the applications in it (I imagine that Dell does also). I burned the SW folder to disk and ran the program to make restore disks (in case something goes awry), then went to HP's site and downloaded all the drivers I needed (after looking through device manager to see what driver versions etc,).
I then formatted with the XP cd and installed the drivers and then copied the software I wanted from the SW cd and installed it.
I now have a usable 80gb drive WITHOUT all the HP crap on it.
well said
by eenie358 - 8/17/06 7:31 PM In reply to: Formatting is usually not done. Here's why. by R. Proffitt
I totally agree. So you have a few registry entries that are useless. Big deal.
Do Not Reformat
by kanehi - 8/12/06 1:20 AM In reply to: I just want to be sure by jbeneshellfishI have a laptop and reformatted it. The only problem was that the laptop needed special drivers for the hardwares. It was a pain in the neck looking for the appropriated drivers. Had to reload the laptop with the recovery disks and then just add/delete programs. Then I defragmented the HD afterwards.
Look before you leap - Check the size first
by videorob - 8/13/06 12:51 AM In reply to: Do Not Reformat by kanehiReformatting should never be your first choice. Go to Control Panel and then Add/Remove Programs. You'll be able to see how much disk space each application occupies. There may be dozens of small applications that have been pre-installed. Check out only those that take up a lot of disk space. Remove the others only when you are running out of empty disk space (most probably a few years later).
Deleting Application Files
by CrisBurgess - 8/11/06 3:23 AM In reply to: I never had such an issue. I simply... by R. Proffitt
Just deleting an application by removing its files isn't the greatest thing to do because you leave all of the Registry entries and files stored in other directories you don't know about.
CGB
I never had such an issue. I simply put up with it....
by dllfo - 8/11/06 9:45 AM In reply to: I never had such an issue. I simply... by R. Proffitt
I have had two Toshiba low end units. Satellites I think. And they have more Toshiba related garbage, BUT I feared if I removed it, it might not boot up. I have had computers since '85, but still don't speak the language. I still miss DOS.
Also, not sure where to say this, but Toshiba sells their entry level computers with a SMALL battery. Like 45 minutes or so. After complaining almost a year I got a real battery that lasts 2-3 hours.
My Toshiba runs like an 8088 some times. Too much crap on it from vendors I don't want. BUT if I pull the Toshiba junk off...will the world end?
I KNOW HOW, I just don't know ''What If''. It sounds like you are saying to dump it. Yes??? I bought my unit July 4, 2005 and it is a celeron..uh...1.3ghz in speed on a good day...20mz on a bad day.
Does anyone know if it is ok to remove all their junk?
Thanks, Dave L.
I Agree, use add/remove programs
by ABReview - 8/11/06 11:28 AM In reply to: I never had such an issue. I simply... by R. Proffitt
I purchased 2 laptops this year and cleared the bloatware off of both of them. One was a Compaq and one was a Toshiba. I agree with Bob, use the add/remove programs function within your control panel and don't worry about any remnants that may be left behind somewhere......
Not sure when the last computer you purchased was, but before our 2 computers this year, we had not purchased a computer since 2001. We found that the add/remove function works a lot smoother now as opposed to 2001. There were hardly any remnants left at all that we noticed.
You can also run a PC cleaning program, such as CCleaner and further remove bloatware if needed.
I agree that re-installing your operating system would be the best way to totally get rid of that stuff, however, I don't trust that I have the technical know-how to pull that off.
And removing each bloatware individually will allow you to check out the software a little bit and see if it is something you may want. We actually found one program on the Toshiba that at first we thought was a ''trial version'', but it turned out to be a full version of a notetaking software that we actually liked (Microsoft OneNote). If we had reformatted and re-installed, we would have missed this one.
But finding software that you would actually want is very rare with bloatware (on 2 new computers we only found one that we wanted to keep!).... I feel your pain when it comes to just wanting to get rid of it!!!
Best of Luck,
Aly B
removing bloatware, spyware, anti-virus .....
by vingtsun - 8/11/06 7:30 AM In reply to: Bloatware by jbeneshellfishCome into the 21st century and buy a Mac. Why settle for anything less.
Macintosh - it just works!
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